Fresno police sergeant guilty of off-duty DUI

Through his lawyer, a Fresno police sergeant pleaded guilty Wednesday morning in Fresno County Superior Court to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving.

Judge Kimberly Gaab immediately sentenced Sgt. Ron Hughes to three years of probation and 15 days in the adult offender work program. The judge also fined him $1,800.

Hughes did not attend the hearing. He had waived his right to be present. Attorney E. Marshall Hodgkins entered the plea on Hughes' behalf.

Fresno police said Hughes was off duty when he was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 13 on Clovis Avenue near Belmont Avenue. An officer pulled over Hughes after seeing him driving erratically, police said. Toxicology reports showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.22. The legal limit is 0.08.

Explore where you live.

Hughes, who was on modified duty after his arrest, has since returned to patrol.

In court Wednesday morning, Hodgkins said his client was guilty of driving drunk with a blood-alcohol greater than .15.

The judge gave Hughes four days of credit in the work program because he has completed a first-time drunken driving program, attended regular Alcoholics Anonymous classes, and admitted his guilt early in the proceedings, Hodgkins said.

Hughes must enroll in the work program by Jan. 28 or report to jail to complete the remaining 11 days of his sentence, Hodgkins said.